Criminal Justice News

Friday, August 12, 2016

BILLINGS, Mont. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of a suspect who burglarized Murdoch’s Ranch and Home
Supply at about 3:45 a.m., Aug. 9.

About 17 handguns were taken from the store at 822
Jackrabbit Lane in Bozeman, Montana. No suspect information is available. ATF
and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office are jointly investigating the
burglary.

Anyone with information should call ATF’s Billings Field
Office at 406-657-9700, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office at 406-582-2100 or
the ATF Tip Line at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (283-4867). Callers to the ATF tip line can
remain anonymous.

Stolen firearms in Montana

In 2015, 15 firearms were stolen from licensed gun dealers,
a 50 percent decrease from 2014. 30
firearms were stolen from licensed gun dealers in 2014.Montana ranked 37 in the nation in 2015 for
lost and stolen firearms from gun dealers. About 22 firearms have been stolen from
licensed gun dealers in Montana in 2016.There are about 1,080 gun dealers (including pawn brokers) in Montana.